I headed out this morning to try to see if I could catch up with any goose flocks in the area in the hopes of finding something unusual among them (a Pink footed Goose has been in Turners Falls the last few days on and off). I started off along the river in Hadley and then went north through North Hadley and over to Amherst and then back down south to Hadley again before heading over to the Quabbin area. Overall the goose numbers were very low but that is not really surprising in fall as the hunting pressure on the birds is quite high and finding good size flocks can be difficult (especially compared to spring). Nevertheless I still managed to catch up with one unusual goose when I had a Cackling Goose at the campus pond at UMASS. There were no geese in any fields I checked and the only location that had any numbers of geese at all was the campus pond. Low numbers of other waterfowl around with mostly the typical stuff with Mallards and Black Ducks as well as Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneye and a single Red necked Grebe.

2 comments:

As far as know, the PFGO was only seen on one day (the 25th) but you may have more info? It does appear that David Moon sound recorded it at night on the 24th but, quite naturally, he wasn't sure what it was!

Third hand report that it was seen flying out in the morning but that is the only other positive sighting I have heard of. Very cool that he got a recording of the bird! I was hoping it would show up down in Hampshire County but no luck yet.